The Great Cotswold Outdoors

The Great Cotswolds Outdoors

Enjoy yourself in the great Cotswold outdoors by exploring on foot or by bike. With over 5000km of footpaths and rights of way, the Cotswolds offers great walking country. Serious hikers will enjoy the challenge of the Cotswold Way or Thames Path. For recreational walking, most towns and villages have shorter circular routes.

A few of the small, market towns hold annual walking festivals in the Cotswolds including Dursley and Winchcombe. Cotswold Voluntary Wardens organise hundreds of interesting walks throughout the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) that are free of charge.

Base yourself in a town or village and enjoy a weekend with walks. Find out about our recommendations here.

Cycling is very popular in the Cotswolds with routes ranging from flat towpaths to gentle slopes and sharper escarpments. These differences in terrain give every level of cyclist a chance to enjoy an extensive network of routes, including quiet lanes and Sustrans Route 45.

One of the Cotswolds greatest secrets is how good the area is for off-road cycling. The network of tracks designated as byways and bridleways makes off-road cycling one of the best ways to discover the area.

The Cotswolds has many cycling sporting events, charity rides and triathlons. The off-road Hell of the North and Heaven of the South events have built great reputations. If you feel put off by the idea of hills, there are plenty of flatter routes along rivers and canal towpaths.

Some of Britain’s top eventers live in the Cotswolds and unsurprisingly it’s a great place to ride. Numerous riding centres cater for both the experienced and novice rider and there are long distance routes and trails to follow such as the Sabrina Way. Buy a copy of The Cotswolds on Horseback or find out more about riding in the Cotswolds by contacting the British Horse Society.

At the end of a day’s walking, cycling or riding, kick off your boots and relax with a pint in the pub, a glass of English sparkling or just sink into a bath full of bubbles back at your B&B, cottage or hotel.

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Kingham

Kingham is an unspoilt Cotswold village that makes an excellent base for walking with a number of excellent pubs and a mainline railway station. There are a number of free downloadable walks around Kingham.

Type

Type:

Walking Route

Charlbury

Charlbury is a charming little Cotswolds town set in the Evenlode Valley amidst the remains of the ancient forest of Wychwood, once one of England's greatest royal forests. There are a number of free downloadable walks.

Type

Type:

Animal Collection

Cheltenham

Dates

From:

13 Feb 2017to30 Oct 2017Open 10:30 - 17:00

Established in 1971 as the home of rare breed conservation, Cotswold Farm Park offers a fun-filled day out. Children can interact closely with the animals in the Touch Barn and there’s also a wildlife walk, adventure playground and farm safari.

Type

Type:

Walking Tour

Cheltenham

Dates

From:

20 May 2018to22 May 2018

Winchcombe offers great walks, a lot of history, an annual Walking Festival and guided and self-guided walks in picturesque countryside. Visit www.winchcombewelcomeswalkers.com to find plenty of useful information to make your visit enjoyable.

Type

Type:

Sightseeing

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2017to31 Dec 2017

You’ll visit Cotswolds villages that are inaccessible to public transport and drive through private estates. We have lunch (£7) at an historic 16th century pub. Great daytrip from London, we greet you at Moreton-in-Marsh railway station – 10.00...

Type

Type:

Cycling Tour

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2017to31 Dec 2017

Explore the Cotswolds with The Carter Company on a gentle cycling of walking holiday. Designed with the thoughtful traveller in mind, our creative traffic-free routes aim to show you the hidden gems of the Cotswolds, not just the highlights.

Type

Type:

Guided Tour

Stroud

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2017to31 Dec 2017

Cotswolds Adventures offer unique, small group cycling and chauffeur driven tours of the Cotswolds. Choose from one of our suggested itineraries or let us create your own Tailor-Made Cotswolds Adventure.Our tours concentrate on off-the-beaten tracks

Type

Type:

Historic House/Palace

Wotton under Edge

Dates

From:

18 Feb 2017to30 Oct 2017Various Opening Times

From:

4 Nov 2017to10 Dec 2017Various Opening Times

Newark Park stands proud on top of the Cotswold Escarpment, looking down into the Ozleworth Valley to the Mendips beyond. With a house of architectural intrigue, quaint gardens and a sprawling estate and parkland.